Improvement in drilling and pumping oil-wells by compressed air and petroleum gas



M. J; SEYMOUR. Drilling and Pumping Oil-Wells by Compressed Air:

7 and Petroleum Gas."

No. 205,811. Patented July 9,1878;

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARVIN J. SEYMOUR, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DRILLING AND PUMPING OIL-WELLS BY COMPRESSED AIR ANDPETROLEUM GAS.

Specification forming part of Lcttcrs Patent No. 205,811, dated July 9,1.878; application filed May 10, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARVIN J. SEYMOUR, of Oil City, in the county ofVenan go and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Drilling and Pumping Oil-Wells by Compressed Air andPetroleum Gas; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in drilling and pumping oil-wellsby compressed air and petroleum gas.

Many oil-wells are located in sections of oilbearing country where it'is exceedingly difficult and very expensive to transport wood or coal tothe wells for the purpose of generating steam to serve as motive powerin drilling and pumping the wells. Owing to the limited supply of oilobtained from many pumpingwells, they are often abandoned as non-payingwells, the expenses of procuring the oil exceeding the income derivedfrom the sale of the oil produced. Many wells are pumped by heads, oronly about one hour in twelve, and, as the steam is often conductedthrough long lines of pipes, there is a large loss of power, owing tothe condensation of steam in the pipes during the intervals occurringbetween working-hours. Another source of delay and expense arises fromthe freezing of water of condensation within the pipes, resulting in thebursting of the pipes and consequent loss thereby. Again, the annualloss occasioned by fires arising from the close proximity of fire to theoiltanks materially enhances the risk and danger of operating the wellsby the method now resorted to. In many instances wells are drilled whichproduce large quantities of gas and no oil, the gas being valuelessunless utilized in generating steam; and often that cannotbe done toadvantage on account of the great distance between such gas-Well and thenearest oilwells, and consequently such gas-wells are valueless, and areabandoned.

' The object of my invention is to utilize the gas issuing fromgas-flowing wells, or wood or coal, or water power situated distant fromthe place where the power is to be applied, by generating the power atthe place of supply, and then transmitting the power to the point whereit is desired to be applied, the same being accomplished. by means ofaincompressors, conncctingpipes, and compressednir engmes.

1t is well known that in many instances the gas issues from oil-wellswith great force, not infrequently indicating a pressure of one hundredand fifty pounds to the square inch. This gas can be utilized inconnection with my invention, as hereinafter described; or the gasemployed in the said process may be pumped from the wells. In order torender this gas, when compressed, very elastic and more capable ofexerting a strong force in returning to its original volume at the placeof applied power, I unite or commingle with it in the air-compressor asuitable volume of air, which latter, by its weltknown elasticity,imparts to the resulting mixture of compressedair gas the desiredquality of elastic force.

The invention consists in pumping or drilling oil-wells by means ofmotive power obtained from compressed mixed air and gas, the gas beingconducted into the air-compressors, and then discharged therefrom,together with the air, the two being thus united and compressed. Thegas, intermingled with the air under such circumstance, is much moreelastic in its character than is compressed gas when used singly, andthe minute particles of petroleum in the gas act as a lubricant for theen gine-cylinder.

It is this uniting of gas and air in compressed volume that constitutesmy invention, since each of these two components qualifies the other andcauses the resulting mixture to be especially adapted for the purpose inview. The air, by reason. of its well-recognized elasticity, impartsthis quality in suitable degree to the mixed volume, while the oilyparticles contained in the gas serve not only as a self-lubricant to theengine, but also lubricate the length of pipe intervening between theair-compressor and air-engine. This latter feature causes theconnecting-pipes to readily transmit the current of compressed air andgas through them with as little frietion as possible, and henceovercomes one of the main diflicnlties in conducting compressed airthrough pipes for any considerable distance.

Suitable air-compressors of any improt'ed form of construction arelocated in close proximity to a gas-flowing well or supply of coal orwater power, and from the air-compressors lead suitable lines of pipe toone or more oilwells, which latter may be situated several miles distantfrom the compressors.

Each oil well is furnished with a compressed-air engine, by means ofwhichthe compressed air, as it issues from the pipes, is utilized intransmitting power to drill or pump the well, as desired.

Connection is made between the air comprcssor or compressors and somenear oil-well, and the gas from the latteris conducted therefrom throughthe connecting-main into the air-com n'essor. The gas is thereintermingled with the air, and the two issue from out the samecompressed and comlningled. The respective proportions of gas and airthus introduced together in the air-compressor do not materially enterinto the invention, as the same may be indefinitely varied, and thevolume of each may be determined in any instance as desired. 1

This compressed-air gas is yielding in body, and further serves as alubricant by reason of the petroleum contained therein, so that it ofitself oils the cylinder of the compressedair engine into which it isconducted.

As before indicated, the gas may be pumped from an oil-well into thegas-main, and through the latter into the air-compressor; or, in caseswhere the issuing Volume of gas from a well is sufliciently strong andexpansive, by means of the connecting-main, the gas will automaticallyforce itself into the air-compressor.

Nearly the maximum amount of power of the compressed air diluted gas maybe utilized, as little less is occasioned by friction as the air istransmitted through the pipes. No appreciable loss is occasioned bycondensation, and the power is always ready for use.

' My invention will enable many wells now abandoned as non-paying to beworked with profit to the owners, as a single gas-flowing well willoften sufiice in furnishing sufficient heat to generate ample power tooperate several wells situated several miles distant from the gas-well.

Again, this improved method of operating pumping-wells will renderprospecting for oil much less hazardous and expensive than at present,as a large section of the country may be thoroughly and economicallytested by transmitting the power to any desired locality from a singleand common source of supply.

In the accompanying sheet of drawing, A represents a pipe for conductingthe gas from a gas-flowing well to the compressor B. U is anair-induction pipe, to admit air to the con pressor. D is a pipe or mainfor conduetin g 'the compressed air and gas to any suitable engine, E,for pumping an oil-well, F. Any number of branch pipes, G, may lead fromthe main conduit D to different wells, and thus allow power to befurnished, as desired, to several difierent wells.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

Com pressed air and petroleumgas for pump ing and drilling oil-wells,substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this7th day of May, 1878.

MARVIN J. SEYMOUR.

\Vitnesscs:

711. M oNAIn, NELSON P. BRYDEN.

